These artists performed at Festival 2018 – performers for 2019 will be announced around October 2018

Mel Parsons (NZ)

With home as a hotel room and a suitcase, Mel Parsons built up a solid fan base the old fashioned way— winning over audiences on the live circuit. Parsons is dynamite on stage and well recognised as one of New Zealand’s established song-writing stars.

The award winning indie-folk singer released her third full length album Drylands to critical acclaim, with a Silver Scroll finalist nod for Get Out Alive in 2015, winning the 2016 NZCMA Best Song for Alberta Sun and the VNZMA for Best Engineer. Parsons continues touring relentlessly, with shows throughout NZ and around the globe including festival appearances at Woodford Folk Festival (AU), Summerfolk Festival (CAN), WOMAD (NZ), Port Fairy Folk Festival (AU), Folk Alliance International (USA), Byron Bay Bluesfest (with, Fly My Pretties), The National Folk Festival (AU) and more.

Solo or with her stellar band, Parsons is at home on stage and renowned as an engaging performer with a naturally emotive voice and razor sharp wit. With a wide breadth of material, she can swing from the gutsy and rhythmic hand-clappers, through to pin-drop ballads in a heartbeat. Testament to Parsons’ song-writing is the endorsement of Canadian music royalty Ron Sexsmith, who lends his voice to the Drylands track Don’t Wait.

Since its release Drylands has spent 41 weeks in the IMNZ Album Charts, peaking at No.2. The release follows the success of both her debut album Over My Shoulder in 2009, and sophomore offering Red Grey Blue in 2011, both of which were VNZMA finalists for Folk Album of the Year. Parsons is also a member of Kiwi musical supergroup Fly My Pretties, with sell out tours and festival performances throughout Australasia.

“The true star here is Parsons' voice.” 5/5 stars – The Aucklander

“Keeping the crowd was a measure of the power and intimacy of her performance as much as how her song-writing grips for its intensely personal touch.” – Elsewhere

“Parsons is in possession of a wonderfully rich voice—impossible not to be drawn in” – The 13th Floor